Custer Prose and Poetry Contest

Every now and again, an event occurs or an image emerges that causes one to pause, to reflect on the beauty and grandeur of the universe.  Well, such an image has emerged and was presented as the front page image on the cover of the March 2007 issue of Custer’s monthly journal, The Custer Comment: ( http://www.tommadigan.net/custer/custercomment-march2007.pdf ).  The full-size, original image can be found at ( http://www.tommadigan.net/custer/McNaught_Andes_LMC_SMC_MilkyWay.jpg ).

In harmony with Custer’s recent winning of a high-value astronomical instrument through the Sharing the Sky Foundation ( http://www.sharingthesky.org ), in keeping with my commitments as a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, as an educator, an astronomer and one who is personally committed to a new intellectual renaissance through science, education and personal excellence, I am pleased to announce the following contest:

A thoughtful poem or essay, no less than 1,000 words, with the image on the March 2007 Custer Comment as the subject, to be submitted to this editor two months prior to Custer’s 29^th annual Astronomy Jamboree, held the weekend of 20 October 2007.  The deadline, therefore, would be 20 August 2007.  The top 5 from each category will be published in the Custer Comment for September 2007 with an invitation to Custer’s membership to vote on the best from both categories.  There will be 2 winners, one for the best poem and one for the best essay.  The winners will be announced at the Jamboree, 07 and will read aloud, their winning work, if in attendance or will have it read, if not in attendance.  Both winners will receive a one-year complimentary membership to Custer Institute and a one year subscription to Astronomy Magazine.

Ralph Waldo Emerson had this to say about the night sky:

If the Stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile.

What say you?

Regards,

Tom Madigan

Custer Institute and Observatory

Fellow, RAS

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